Thread: HI: Feds Arrest 120 in Immigration Crackdown

Feds Arrest 120 In Immigration Crackdown
Prosecutors Say They Plan To Arrest More

POSTED: 5:14 pm HST August 22, 2008
UPDATED: 5:27 pm HST August 22, 2008


HONOLULU -- Federal prosecutors on Friday said illegal immigration has become a threat to Hawaii's economy as they announced recent enforcement actions at local jobsites that led to 120 arrests with more to come.

"I am deeply troubled when I see deliberate violations of federal laws to take our jobs," Hawaii U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo said.

Hawaii's U.S. attorney displayed pictures of 23 men facing prison and deportation after being caught with fake documents they used to get work at a Kunia farm. He also reported arrests of 28 construction workers at the Honua Kai Resort on Maui.

There have been 120 worksite arrests since December, many apparently working an underground labor circuit.

"(They are) being brought to Hawaii to work for specific time periods and then being taken back to the mainland," Kubo said.

"We have seen a pattern of individuals coming in groups to work on certain projects and certain jobs, whether in agricultural, construction or even the restaurant industry," Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent In Charge Wayne Wills said.

Investigators said they are still looking for evidence that the employers knew or should have known they were hiring so many illegals. They said the excuse that the workers had very good fake IDs may not protect the companies from civil or criminal penalties.

"If you are knowingly hiring illegal aliens, you better keep looking over your shoulder, because we are coming," Kubo said.

Employers can avoid trouble by calling ICE with their suspicions, agents said.

"If you just don't have that feeling that the document is genuine, then reach out to us," Wills said.

Authorities said they are throwing resources to the problem because it is getting worse, while at the same time jobs for legal workers are more precious than ever.

http://www.kitv.com/news/17272150/detail.html

More Illegal Workers Arrested This Week
By Jai Cunningham

There have been a number of illegal workers arrested in Hawaii during the past month.

The latest was on the valley isle and netted nearly two dozen illegals.
The Honua Kai development was the target.

"As a result within the last two weeks approximately 41 undocumented workers have been arrested by our agents on the island of Maui and near that project, of which 28 of them were confirmed as actually working at Honua Kai," said U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo.

This week's arrests just add to a growing total.

"Since last December approximately 120 unauthorized aliens were taken into custody that related to work site enforcement operations," said Wayne Wills Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It was in December when federal agents raided the Pinnacle Condominium construction site, nabbing more than a dozen illegal aliens.

What accounts for such an influx in arrests.

"People are losing their jobs and it's not in the hundreds, but it's in the thousands. So these are available, good decent citizens who want to make an honest living so they can support their families," said Kubo.

The U.S. Attorney also warns it's not just the illegal immigrants being put on notice, but companies as well.

"That if you are illegally working here in the state, or if you are knowingly hiring illegal aliens you better keep looking over your shoulders because we are coming."

The men in custody who were found to have fake documents could face five to ten years in prison.

Companies could also face criminal prosecution.
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